Spilling my guts

I've said it before - I'm an over-sharer. Others around me are not as...shall we say, forthcoming.
I have loose  (yet very thin) lips. Some people value playing it close to the vest.

I get it. There are many good reasons to keep things to yourself. Like, if they are personal in nature. In fact, I don't like to hear personal stuff from others. TMI baby! Or if others ask you not to tell something. I am good at following directions.

But I have a different mindset than some about sharing information. Sometimes I just put stuff out there for all to see or hear. That way they can share the good/bad with me. stoicism isn't all it's cracked up to be. Holding things in can cause stress. You don't have to carry the load alone.

We had a great weekend celebrating our friend Kari's birthday in Ames, and a big Cyclone victory over Baylor. We took Odie along and stayed all night at Kevin and Kari's house. Our pals Donnie and Diana were in town too. For extra fun, we took the birthday girl to the Tip Top Lounge after the game. High-class joint right there - I hadn't been there since...the 80's.

On Sunday, before we returned to WDM, we got to tour the Sukup Biorenewables Complex where Kevin works. It's a very cool place, where future Ag Engineers learn their stuff.

Sign cut with a water laser

On Sunday night, we got together with all of the McFees who aren't calving. Technically Kristina is now a Carroll, but you get it. Plus we had bonus people, Joanie McFee Bentley and baby Eleanor "Lenny". I didn't get a picture - damn! Lenny was adorable and all of the other people were cute too. We met a Smokey D's BBQ. It was delish.

We were all tired last night. What a good weekend!

Catching up

It's been a while. I must admit - I haven't been up to blogging lately. At least blogs fit for public consumption. I have written a few political rants that I decided to keep just for myself. 😑

Nevertheless, life goes on, and eventually, I must write~

Last weekend we finally had a chance to head south to visit Jud and Kara, dogs Henry and Archie and their new adorable home in the STL area. They had a short list of "to-do's" for Paul. My job was entertaining the dogs. Yes, I'm the dog whisperer. Odie hates the "boys" and growled at them quite often. It didn't seem to phase them, especially Archie - his whole body wiggles in a wag when he walks.

Supper at the Shaved Duck

I love St. Louis! There are so many cool neighborhoods around the city. Jud and Kara are fun to hang out with and we always go to interesting places to eat and drink. We spent the morning Saturday running errands. Paul and Jud bonded in a manly way by putting together a new Weber grill. That afternoon, we went to a game-watch for the Iowa State University men's basketball team. It was in a suburb about 10 minutes from J&K's new place. Later we went to a restaurant that had beer tappers at several of the tables. Talk about serve yourself! I had a sloppy joe that was a bun that had a brand sizzled into it, surrounded by a tasty meaty concoction.

By the time we got home to DSM, most of the prior week's snow had melted. The Iowa weather has taken a warm turn! It's weird - and we'll probably suffer later, like through a plague of bugs or something. But for now, a respite from winter has been lovely!

On Wednesday, Paul had a little tune up. His shoulder had been bothering him for a while, and a visit with a surgeon and an MRI determined he needed surgery on his rotator cuff. Dr. (very cute) Sullivan told me it was 90% torn, so he fixed that and trimmed the rough bone. The first evening was a little rough - because my husband was still goofy from the anesthetic. Paul is in a restrictive sling and slept in his chair that first night.

On Thursday, he did pretty well. I was a super great nurse, of course. For me, anyway. Did you know you can use Press N Seal on a shoulder to keep it dry during a shower? I haven't dressed another person since Jud was a youngster - and certainly never anyone this big. He really only needs assistance with his shirt - but it's a good thing he's sharp because I almost put it on him backward the first time. Awkward.

We stayed pretty close to home until Saturday. Lucky our friends Jane and Ken sent us a week of Blue Apron - delivered grocery meal kits. We made burgers with garlic paste and onions Friday night with a nice salad.

We ventured out to the ISU basketball game Saturday afternoon. It was in the balmy 60's. The Cyclones won and we had a nice meal with our pals, Kevin and Kari. On Sunday, Paul actually marched around in the timber. I'm glad he didn't tip over. I went to a meeting of like-minded people from my Senate district. We are just getting organized.

That afternoon we had a visit from Paul's sister Carol. We stopped by Fox Brewery in Valley Junction for a beer while we caught up on winter (?) activities. She's been to Arizona, and then she brought the weather back!

Killer Look, Glasses, Visit from Jane & Ken

The fashion world fascinates me. I know, you couldn't tell it by looking at me. It's like cooking, gardening and now fashion. I like them to read and watch - more from afar. But in practice..it is not in my gene makeup to pull them off. It doesn't stop me from trying at times, though.

I'm listening to a fiction book right now by Linda Fairstein called "Killer Look". I've read or listened to all her books about a New York Assistant District Attorney character Alex Cooper. By now the character and her co-characters are like old friends of mine. One thing I enjoy about this series is that the author takes the opportunity to educate the reader about various topics. This book is about the fashion world. I learned that Russian Jews have had a huge impact in that arena.

In the midst of a murder investigation, the book gave background on Fashion designer Ralph Lauren was born in the Bronx to Jewish immigrant parents. His name was Ralph Lifshitz. The author went on to explain how cut-throat fashion is - especially now that the workforce is dressing more casually.

Ah...Leslie drifts back to fashions of yesteryear. When I first entered the workforce, straight from college, I went to stores like Younkers to pick up ready-to-wear "separates". Clothing wasn't always so easy to purchase. The clothing industry in New York City had a huge impact on sizing clothes so that "everywoman" could buy them off the rack.

Another fashion name mentioned in the book with an immigrant Jewish background is Anne Klein, born Hanna Golofski. That name brings to mind my mother and her friends dressed up for their daytime bridge club.

Dressing up for fam events

Today we are into "casual". Though I embrace that look - I do believe we have lost something by surrendering to loosened clothing standards. That said, I don't want to be told to, "Dress like a woman."  I do not like flip flops and tee shirts at work. I must admit that I have mostly given up on dressing up at my office. I salute Chad who sports work casual daily. No jeans for him. And Callie who wears cute fashions daily. Most of us just try to stay warm and comfortable.

What is my point? Just like with many things, I'm nostalgic for days past, when women like my mother dressed up and accessorized. It was great for her and her friends. But not enough to do it myself. We can be fond of the past and still move forward. Learning from history, understanding where we came from can help us do that.

Our friends Jane and Ken were in town this weekend (they winter in sunny Florida). Ken, a media guy, MC'd an event at the West Des Moines Sheraton. The couple scored the Presidential Suite at the Sheraton during the event and visited the "dignitaries" for drinks and sushi Friday night. The most impressive part of the suite was the giant shower, so I snapped this photo of all of us but Geri's husband Frankie - who must have been afraid someone would turn on the water.

Mom and me - big early 90's glasses. Now they're back in! 

On Saturday, I buzzed to Creston to pick up my new glasses. Always great service by our good friend Dr. Don McKim and the staff at Creston Vision Clinic. Bill Sorden always helps me pick frames that fit with my especially biffed up eyeballs. Talk about fashion. Check out my glasses fashion through the years. 80's ugh! Later I met my bestie Deb for coffee. I could have stayed all day spilling my guts. We had lots to catch up on. I miss seeing her more frequently.

Back at our home in WDM, Jane and Ken came to our house (life in the Presidential Suite was over) the couple watched ISU beat the Kansas Jayhawks in basketball with us. Beating KU isn't all that rare, but at Allen Fieldhouse is. They were our good luck charms!